Washing-machine.



S. E. BEBLMAN. WASHING MACHINE. 'APPLIOATIQN rum) JUN; 12, 1909.

979,733. Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

2 sums-Sunni 1.

gmmmtoz SAMUEL E. BEELIVIAN, OF SOMONAUK, ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. BEELMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somonauk, in the county of Dekalb, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in "Washing-Machines, and do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention provides an efficient and easily-operable machine in which clothes and like articles may be thoroughly washed, the construction being such that the articles are squeezed and rubbed without injury thereto.

When read in connection with the description herein, the details of construction and arrangement of parts contemplated by this invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein an embodiment of the invention is disclosed, for purposes of illustration.

While the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is preferred, as it has given satisfactory and reliable results in practice, it is to be understood that the several instrumentalities of which the invention consists may be variously organized, without in the least departing from the nature and spirit of the invention, and that the inven tion is not limited to the precise construction and-arrangement herein shown and described.

Like reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings, of which Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine having one form of actuating means; Fig. 2 is an elevation of a machine having another form of actuating means; Fig. 3 is a top view, with the cover removed; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view.

The tub or casing of the machine includes sides 6 and a rounded bottom 7, the structure being supported by legs 8 and having an outlet 9 and a cover 10. A rock-shaft 11 is journaled in the sides and extends transversely of the tub or casing near the top and at or about midway the distance between the ends.

An agitator 12 is fast on, is pivotally supported by, and depends downwardly from shaft 11, into the tub or casing. Near each Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. June 12, 1909.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Serial No. 501,683.

end of the casing, and resting in seats 13 formed in the upper edges of the sides 6, is a removable cross member 14.

A flexible pervious apron 15 is connected at its ends to cross members 14 and intermediate its ends, preferably midway, it is connected to the lower edge of agitator 12. This apron may be made of any suitable pervious material or pieces of impervious material so arranged to permit the ready passage of water therebetween. It is preferably made of slats 16 carried on cords or ropes or other suitable flexible elements 17, the slats being kept a suitable distance apart by nails or rivets 18 which engage the carrying elements. When the apron comprises flexibly-carried slats, it is preferably supported by having the end slats attached by screws or nails 19 to cross members 14 and by having its middle slat connected to the bottom edge of agitator 12 in any suitable manner, as by screws or nails 20.

lVhen the machine is in operation, Water and any desired washing ingredients are placed in the tub or casing and the articles to be washed are placed in the water on the loops of the apron on each side of the agitator. The shaft is then rocked and the agitator swung back and forth imparting reciprocatory movement to the intermediate portion of the apron, and causing the articles first on one loop to be raised, loosened, and turned, while those on the other loop are compressed or squeezed and rubbed, and then on reverse movement of the agitator the articles on the loop which has raised, loosened, and turned them will be squeezed and rubbed, while the articles on the other loop will be released from compression, raised, loosened, and turned. These operations will be repeated successively as the agitator is swung back and forth, and Water will be successively caused to be circulated through and squeezed out of the articles.

Rocking movement may be imparted to the rock-shaft by any suitable means, as, for instance, that shown in Fig. 1, wherein the shaft has upwardly-extending arms 21, connected by a handle member 22. The shaft may also be rocked by the means shown in Fig. 2. In this form, arms 23 attached to each end of the rock-shaft are connected by links 24 to levers 25 pivoted in legs 8 of the machine and connected at their free ends by a handle member 26. In both forms, the shaft is rocked by imparting reciprocatory movement to the handle portion.

hen it is desired to clean the tub or casing, the cross members 14 are lifted out of their seats 13 and moved with the ends of the apron to which they are respectively connected toward the center of the machine to the position in which one of the members is shown in Fig. 3. Then the apron will remain suspended out of the way and easy access can be had to the tub.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A. washing-machine comprising a casing, a continuous apron suspended from each end therein and arranged to receive articles to be washed, and means connected with the apron intermediate its ends whereby reciprocatory movement is imparted to the intermediate portion of the apron.

2. A washing-machine comprising a oasing, a removable cross member near the top of the casing and near each end, an apron depending into the casing and having its ends connected with said cross members, and means connected with an intermediate por tion of the apron whereby reciprocatory movement is imparted thereto.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL E. BEELMAN. lVitnesses o. E. HEss, D. F. STEvnNs. 

